Hibiscus plant named ‘Tonga Wind’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Tonga Wind’, characterized by its upright, somewhat outwardly spreading, uniformly mounded and dense plant habit appropriate for container production; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform, freely and early flowering habit; bright red-colored flowers; and good postproduction and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘TONGA WIND’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Hibiscus plant, botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Tonga Wind’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching Hibiscus plants with a dense, uniform and compact plant habit appropriate for container production, early and uniform flowering habit, numerous flowers per lateral branch, desirable flower color and good garden performance.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. in September, 2007 of a proprietary selection of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis identified as code number YB-2450, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis identified as code number YB-2336, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hibiscus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. on Sep. 2, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. since February, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Tonga Wind’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Tonga Wind’ as a new and distinct Hibiscus plant:

-   -   1. Upright, somewhat outwardly spreading, uniformly mounded and         dense plant habit appropriate for container production.     -   2. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Uniform, freely and early flowering habit.     -   4. Bright red-colored flowers.     -   5. Good postproduction and garden performance.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more upright than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus are slightly darker red         in color than flowers of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of the male parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have orange-colored flowers with red-colored centers.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Brilliant Red’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the new Hibiscus differed from plants of ‘Brilliant Red’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus were more upright than plants of         ‘Brilliant Red’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus were more freely branching than         plants of ‘Brilliant Red’.     -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus flowered earlier than plants of         ‘Brilliant Red’.     -   4. Plants of the new Hibiscus had smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Brilliant Red’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hibiscus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Tonga Wind’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Tonga Wind’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containers in a fiberglass-covered greenhouse in Alva, Fla. and under environmental conditions and cultural practices which closely approximate commercial Hibiscus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 38° C., night temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 24° C. and light levels ranged from 3,000 to 4,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched two times and were 24 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Tonga Wind’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus             rosa-sinensis identified as code number YB-2450.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus             rosa-sinensis identified as code number YB-2336, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 days at temperatures of 24°             C.         -   Time to develop roots.—About four weeks at temperatures of             24° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial, evergreen, upright,             somewhat outwardly spreading, compact, uniformly mounded and             dense; vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with lateral             branches potentially develop at every node; pinching             enhances lateral branch development.         -   Plant height.—About 31 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 41 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 18 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 7 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm to 2 cm.         -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly outwardly spreading.         -   Texture.—Immature, smooth; mature, woody and rough.         -   Color, immature.—Close to 147A.         -   Color, mature.—Close to 197A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.         -   Length.—About 8.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute to acuminate.         -   Base.—Obtuse, occasionally with cordate tendencies.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Somewhat glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: More green than             N137A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to N137B.             Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Much darker green than             147A; venation, much darker green than 147A. Fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Close to N137A to N137B; lateral             venation, close to N137B; midvein, close to 146A.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 4.1 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent.             Color, upper surface: Close to 147A. Color, lower surface:             Close to 146A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Rounded star-shaped             flowers arranged at terminal leaf axils; uniform and freely             flowering habit with about four to five flowers per             terminal; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Hibiscus flower             naturally during the spring and summer or during periods of             warm weather; plants flower year-round in the greenhouse.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two to three days on             the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 10.7 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 7.5 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Resistance to abscission during shipping: Plants             of the new Hibiscus have been observed to resist flower bud             drop when stored in a closed box for five days at 13° C.             Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Shape: Ovoid.             Color: Close to 144A.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five petals that             are fused at base; petals imbricate. Length: About 7.25 cm.             Width: About 6 cm. Shape: Roughly spatulate. Apex: Rounded.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous; satiny; veins prominent on the lower             surface. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 44A.             When opening, lower surface: Close to 42B and 14C. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 44A; towards the base, close             to 45A; color does not fade with development. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 42B and 14C; color does not fade             with development.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a tubular             star-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.6 cm. Width: About 1 cm.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Sharply acute. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; waxy. Texture,             lower surface: Slightly pubescent. Color, upper surface:             Close to 146A. Color, lower surface: More green than 144A.         -   Bracts.—Appearance: About six to seven fused at base.             Length: About 1.4 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate.             Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Sparsely pubescent. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: More green than 147A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Aspect: Upright. Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: More green than 146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,             about 75 per flower. Filament length: About 3.5 mm. Filament             color: Close to 47A. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length:             About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 9A. Amount of pollen:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 14A. Gynoecium: Pistil             number: One per flower. Pistil length: About 7.2 cm. Style             length: About 6.3 cm. Style texture: Smooth, glabrous; waxy.             Style color: Towards the apex, close to 47A to 47C; towards             the base, close to 45A. Stigma appearance: Five-parted,             rounded. Stigma color: Close to 46A. Ovary color: Close to             157A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been             observed on plants of the new Hibiscus. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 38° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus grown under     Florida production conditions have not been shown to be susceptible     to pathogens common to Hibiscus such as Pseudomonas, Pythium and     Phytophthora. Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed to     be resistant to pests and other pathogens. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Tonga Wind’ as illustrated and described. 